Welcome to Scotland! Here's Pubfall...

We've been saying it for years. We really should organise a yearly end of season get together, for everyone who's been part of the Pub2Pub story. Well, this autumn - or 'fall', if you're American - we're doing just that. But naturally, with this being Pub2Pub, we're not simply going to book a Travelodge with a function room somewhere dull; no, for Pubfall, with apologies to a certain James Bond film, it's going to be a case of, 'welcome to Scotland'.

On the weekend of the 01st to 03rd November, you are cordially invited to the Landmark Hotel and Leisure Club near Dundee, to mark the passing of the road trip season with a weekend get-together of the Pub2Pub family. Here, you can expect to see familiar faces from your trips with us, as well as crossing paths with new people who've taken part in other Pub2Pub tours. And we're doing this properly. We'll be laying on an itinerary for a drive-out into the Cairngorms on the Saturday, via the Old Military Road - one of the best driving roads in the country (you can read EVO magazine's take on the road here), which will lead you past Balmoral through some of Scotland's most remote countryside. Additionally, there's plenty to do in the area, from touring the Steam Ship Discovery - Scott and Shackleton's former Antarctic ride - to visiting the mighty Glamis Castle, about ten miles north of the hotel. Or for whisky fans, up near Balmoral on the Old Military Road, there's always the option of touring the Royal Lochnegar distillery. Naturally, as this is Pub2Pub, there's an aviation museum nearby, at RAF Montrose, and there's a 200-year old, 44 cannon frigate called HMS Unicorn to explore, too. In short, Pubfall promises to be a great weekend away in a great corner of Scotland, and an excellent way to cram one last road trip into 2024.

Here's the plan for the weekend:

Friday afternoon - arrive at the hotel (a meeting point further south, and a route, will be suggested for those who wish to form up in convoy and take the scenic route to the hotel)

Friday evening - drinks and mingling

Saturday - optional drive-out up the old military road, via the Royal Lochnegar distillery

Saturday evening - group 3-course buffet meal at the hotel, followed by the Pubfall Party - dry martinis optional

Sunday - check out of the hotel, take in some of the local sights listed above, then either head south, or extend your Scottish vacation by heading north for another few days

For those who wish to extend their time in Scotland, we'll be suggesting a few additional days of exploring, to make the most of the journey north. And, we'll most likely be joining you in this. So, if you wish to hang around north of the border for another few days after the weekend, let us know, as there will be a proposed itinerary for extending the weekend into the following week...

So, that's Pubfall, a fine way to end the 2024 season of road tripping on a high. However to clarify, there's no need to take your sports car - as it'll be November, you're welcome to come along in your daily driver. Or fly up to Edinburgh and hire a car for a few days, if you'd prefer. Though naturally, there'll most certainly be a prize for the most unlikely car to make the trip to Scotland in November...

The cost of a double or twin room in the hotel for the two nights is a very reasonable £180, which includes breakfast on both days, while the cost of the three course buffet dinner on the Saturday evening comes to £35 per person. If you'd like to be part of this first ever Pub2Pub end of season party, send us an email at ben@pub2pubadventures.com